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Court told of lover's words after final attack
A DAD'S three-week torture ordeal ended when his girlfriend crushed his ribs with her knees then said: "I think I've killed him," a court heard.
Jarrow man Andrew Gardner died after allegedly suffering weeks of being beaten, stabbed, burned, whipped and starved by his partner Clare Nicholls, 28, her brother Simon Nicholls, 24, and her "on-off lover" Steven Martin, 44. All deny murder.
During their trial at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, jurors heard how Ms Nicholls jumped knee-first on to Mr Gardner's chest on March 13, at the home they shared in Arthur Street, Chilton, County Durham.
Mr Gardner, 35, was found dead later that day with more than 100 injuries, including 21 broken ribs.
In a police interview read out to the court, Martin told detectives: "Clare jumped on his chest with her knees and said 'I think I've killed him', three times.
"Then she told Simon to get an ambulance."
The court heard how Mr Nicholls told paramedics Mr Gardner had been attacked while on a night out and returned home with the injuries, before collapsing in front of them.
The three defendants were arrested on the night of Mr Gardner's death but were released days later on bail, jurors heard.
Mr Martin, who has learning difficulties, was re-arrested in Jarrow on July 9, and immediately told detectives: "I've been here for days, I
didn't tell Clare because she would have locked me in and I can't take it anymore. I'm really scared."
During police interviews, Mr Martin also said Ms Nicholls, a mum of four, was a "control freak" and was a "violent person you wouldn't cross".
The victim and the three accused all lived together in Howe Street, Hebburn, and St Paul's Road, Jarrow, before moving to Chilton.
During police interviews, Mr Nicholls told officers that he and Martin would hold Mr Gardner down on the floor while Ms Nicholls belittled him and punched and kicked him in the head.
He also said he witnessed Martin pouring boiling water from a kettle over Mr Gardner's feet in the bathroom because "he moaned that the bath was too hot".
The court heard Mr Gardner was locked in the house by Ms Nicholls.
The trial continues today, when Ms Nicholls was expected to give evidence.
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Weather for Jarrow
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light rain
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